Belgian schools set ablaze, vandalized in protest against new sexual education program

By Nur Asena Erturk

Schools were set on fire or vandalized in Belgium to protest a new sexual education program, according to media reports Friday.

Some of those cases were linked directly to the EVRAS program that provoked the ire of some groups, the Le Soir newspaper reported.

In four schools in Charleroi in central Belgium, authorities found tags against EVRAS.

Another school in the eastern city of Liege was not set ablaze but vandalized with tags.

Education Minister Caroline Desir went to the Charleroi region to express support for the teaching staff and management as well as students and parents.

"No, Evras does not prepare a pedophile system," said Desir. "No, it does not plan to incite children to change their genders. No, it does not plan to teach them about sexual activities."

Parliament in the French community of Wallonia-Brussels adopted the law on Evras on Sept. 7, despite protests from various groups.

The Muslim community contested the program in a statement released Sept. 6 by organizations and associations, expressing "total disagreement" and denouncing the "hypersexualization" of children.

Expert teams will go to schools as part of the EVRAS program to give students a sexual, affectional and biological education via animations.

The project targets 85,000 students in the French-speaking Wallonia region and 25,000 in Brussels.